Virgin Mobile Dialer 0.1 README

Wrote up 10/14/2009 - Adam "RabidWeezle" Smith

Installation:

Requirements:
*python 2.6
*PyGtk 2.0 or newer
*xterm (can be changed in the script)
*gnome-ppp (can be changed if you want, but only gnome-ppp has been tested that works)
*gksu (can be changed in the script)
*Linux Kernel 2.6.28-15 has been tested working

Install Instructions

1. Extract it where you want
2. run the install script "install" as as superuser (root, sudo, su -c, whatever)
3. If you are 64-bit compile usb_modeswitch from the included source folder
then copy usb_modeswitch to /usr/share/vmdialer/usb_modeswitch 
overwriting the 32-bit binary in there.

Using the frontend:

Run the frontend with "vmdialer" without quotes or you can create a link on
your desktop pointing to vmdialer.

6. Click "Switch to modem", this will ask you for your root password, you type it in, 
and it switches the modem from usb mass storage to a modem. This HAS to be done first
if you just connected your usb dongle. If you notice the xterm it's running in stays up, 
unplug the usb dongle, that will exit usb_modeswitch a little more proper than trying to kill it.
Plug it back in, and try again, if it goes through properly, it will just make xterm 
flash on and off real quick (or ask for your password and flash off) It will also do this if it doesn't detect your modem for some reason. So if it doesn't see your modem in gnome-ppp try the first button again. If you want to see if the modem was switched properly, you can run "lsusb" in a terminal and look for novatel, if the number on the device is like 6000 something, it's in modem mode. If it's not, well, you need to keep trying to switch it. It is a pain I know, but it's the best way we got to do it. Usally it takes me like 2-3 tries to successfully do the switch. Some are lucky and it works the first try.

7. Click Dial, this does 2 things. It loads the modem driver, and it starts up gnome-ppp if 
the driver loaded correctly. From there you need to setup your modem

steps to setting up gnome-ppp:

click setup and then click on detect modem
set speed at 460800
Under the Options tab, click the box on "Ignore Terminal Strings (stupid mode)
Click Close
Username and password are both: "Internet"
Dial number is #777

8. Once this is all set, you can dialup into their system, sometimes it can take a few redials depending on your coverage, 
I set mine to 99 redial attempts in case of bad signal.

FAQ:
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Q  The modem won't switch using the first button:

A -Disconnect all peripherals from the usb ports including thumbdrives, hard drives, mice. I have a certain mouse that messes with usb_modeswitch myself. Or keep trying, sometimes it takes a couple tries at least.
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Q  My modem is seen by gnome-ppp, but it isn't working once I try to connect:

A -Make sure your modem has been activated in WINDOWS :P there's no way around this as of yet. And last but not least, make sure you paid your bill ;)
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This software is Free to edit, distribute or change according to the GPL.

Revision History
0.11 10/14/2009 - Made an installer/uninstaller set of scripts. 
Fixed paths so users won't have to edit their .py's. Included usb_modeswitch
with known working version in source and binary.


0.1 10/13/2009  - Initial release
